UK: GCA announces North region summer 2025 award winners

The Garden Centre Association's (GCA) North region members met at Moss & Moor at Ilkley in Yorkshire for their Area Award presentations (Wednesday, July 16, 2025).

Destination Garden Centre of the Year, (DGC) was presented to Barton Grange, the Garden Centre (GC) award went to Fron Goch Garden Centre and Local Garden Centre (LGC) to Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield.

© The Garden Centre AssociationL-R: GCA CEO Peter Burks, GCA Inspector, Alyson Haywood, with the team from Barton Grange, GCA North Area Co-Chairman Justin Williams from Fron Goch Garden Centre and GCA North Area Co-Chairman Dan Lawton, General Manager at host garden centre Moss & Moor, celebrating Barton Grange's awards, which included Garden Centre of the Year (DGC).

Peter Burks, GCA CEO said: "Our North Area Awards Meeting was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the event. It was brilliant to see so many members and their teams listening so keenly to what our Inspector Alyson Haywood had to say and taking on board her feedback.

"Well done to all those centers who won awards too. We're indebted to the team at Moss & Moor for hosting us so brilliantly and providing such a warm welcome, and to Alyson for visiting the centers and presenting her findings in such an engaging way too. It was great to see lots of notes being taken!"

© The Garden Centre AssociationThe team from Fron Goch Garden Centre, which was named Garden Centre of the Year (GC), and won other awards too, with GCA North Area Co-Chairman Dan Lawton, General Manager at host garden centre Moss & Moor(far right) GCA CEO Peter Burks (far left), GCA Inspector, Alyson Haywood (second on the right) and GCA North Area Co-Chairman and Managing Director of Fron Goch Justin Williams (second right).

Alyson made unannounced visits to member garden centers in the North area across a 12-week period.

She said: "It's wonderful to see how well GCA member garden centers in this region have performed this year. Each center should be very proud of its achievements. It's also lovely to see members embracing the inspection process and using the feedback they receive in a positive way to drive their businesses even further forward."

The awards for Garden Centre of the Year were presented in three categories. In the DCG category, the first place went to Barton Grange Garden Centre, followed by Bents Garden and Home, and Gordale Garden Centre. In the GC category, Fron Goch Garden Centre secured the top spot, with Cowell's Garden Centre and Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont, coming in second and third place, respectively. For the LGC category, Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield took the leading position, while Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, and Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside, occupied the subsequent positions.

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre was awarded to RHS Harlow Carr. Second and third place in this category included Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield and Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, which also demonstrated significant improvements.

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability recognized the efforts of Bents Garden and Home, which secured the top honor. Following Bents Garden and Home, Barton Grange Garden Centre and Fron Goch Garden Centre were also acknowledged for their commitment to environmental and sustainability practices.

The Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service was awarded to Fron Goch Garden Centre, acknowledging their exceptional service delivery. Barton Grange Garden Centre and Moss & Moor also received accolades for their outstanding customer service, earning second and third places, respectively.

The Plantaria (Ruxley Rose) awards were distributed across three categories. In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre emerged as the leader, with Bents Garden and Home and Gordale Garden Centre following closely. The GC category saw Cowell's Garden Centre take the top spot, while Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont, and Simpsons Garden Centre in Inverness secured the second and third places, respectively. In the LGC category, British Garden Centres in Harrogate was recognized as the leader, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, and Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside, rounding out the top three.

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer was presented across three categories. In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre claimed the top position, followed by Gordale Garden Centre and Bents Garden and Home. Within the GC category, Klondyke Garden Centre, Stokesley, emerged as the leader, with Cowell's Garden Centre and Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont, taking the second and third spots, respectively. In the LGC category, Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield was recognized as the top retailer, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside, and Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, completing the list of honorees.

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant was presented in three categories. In the DGC category, Bents Garden and Home secured the top spot, followed by Gordale Garden Centre and Barton Grange Garden Centre. In the GC category, Klondyke Garden Centre in Astbury took first place, with Klondyke Garden Centre in Wilmslow securing the second spot. Yorkshire Garden Centres, Tingley, and Fron Goch Garden Centre both earned joint third place. For the LGC category, there was a tie for the top honor, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens; Klondyke Garden Centre, Holland Arms, Anglesey; Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside; and Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers all being recognized as joint winners.

The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer was conferred across three categories. In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre took the top honor, followed by Bents Garden and Home and Hayes Garden Centre. For the GC category, Fron Goch Garden Centre was recognized as the leader, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont, and Klondyke Garden Centre, High Legh, earning second and third places, respectively. In the LGC category, Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield was awarded the top spot, while RHS Harlow Carr and Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, rounded out the list of honorees.

The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer was presented in three categories. In the DGC category, Bents Garden and Home secured the top position, followed by Barton Grange Garden Centre and Hayes Garden Centre. In the GC category, Fron Goch Garden Centre was recognized as the leader. The joint runners-up were Klondyke Garden Centre at Houghton Hall, High Legh, and Polmont. Meanwhile, Moss & Moor and Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre shared the joint third place. In the LGC category, Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield claimed the top spot, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside, and Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside, completing the list of recognized retailers.

The Food Hall/Farm Shop Award was presented across three categories. In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre earned the top honor, followed by Bents Garden and Home and Tong Garden Centre. In the GC category, Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre was recognized as the leader, with Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont, securing second place. There was a tie for third place between Klondyke Garden Centre, Houghton Hall, and Notcutts Rivendell. In the LGC category, which featured only two garden centres, Dunbar Garden Centre took the top spot, followed by Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley.

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity recognized Bents Garden and Home for its outstanding innovation and creativity in the commercial sector. Barton Grange Garden Centre was also honored for its innovative approaches, along with Fairways Garden Centre in Macclesfield, showcasing their commitment to creativity in the industry.

The Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer was presented in three categories. In the DGC category, Bents Garden and Home took the top honor, followed by Barton Grange Garden Centre and Hayes Garden Centre. For the GC category, Cowell's Garden Centre was recognized as the leader, with Simpsons Garden Centre, Inverness, and Fron Goch Garden Centre securing the second and third places, respectively. In the LGC category, Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside, claimed the top spot, followed by Klondyke Garden Centre, Weaver Vale, and RHS Harlow Carr.